Matheny Name Origins

Matheny Name Origins

Over many years it has been assumed that everyone with the Surnames of Mathena, Matheny, Metheny, Matheney, Metteneye and other adaptations find their roots in Mediveal France, in the small village of Mathenay. This village is located southeast of Paris, and about 100 miles west of Berne, Switzerland. The first person known to use the name was Count Guy de Vaudrey, Chevalier, Seigneur de' Mathenay, b 1080. It was customary during the period of the Middle ages, and the declining of the Christian Roman Empire, that the local lands, Manors and Castles were under the direct influential rule of the Roman Catholic Abbeys of the area. As the Empire was declining there were Wars erupting between the local Nobles, and Royalties. These regional/local wars were waged against the Abbey Domination. So it was with the Abbey de' Rosserie and it was taken over by Guy de Vaudrey's father, and according to custom the Manors captured were given to a trusted friend or relative. Thus Guy de Vaudrey was awarded the Manor of Mathenay. Thus the Origin of the name: Count Guy de Vaudrey, Chevalier, Seigneur de Mathenay.

John Wilson Matheny was born in Virginia (Federal Census, 1860), not in Pennsylvania; and was the son of Stephen Matheny of Rockingham Co., Va., whose will was poved in May 1848. (Rockingham Wills, Book A.) who married Aug. 23, 1809, Susana Argebright (Wayland's Virginia Valley Records); and served in the war of 1812 in the regiment Virginia Militia (Adj. General's Office, Washington, D.C.)

Stephen was the son of Archibald Matheny who served in the Virginia Militia during the revolution (Wayland, op. cit., militia vouchers, 1778, and his wife Jane Curry, (Morton, History of Highland Co., Va., pages 240, 318). Aricibald appears to the been a son of William Matheny of "Hope" plantation, Stafford Co., Va., by his second marriage, Sept. 10, 1747, to Ann, daughter of Job and Ursula Sims (Boogher, Overwharten Parish Register, Old Stafford Co., Va., 1720-1760.

Since the Mathenys of America are descended from the Mathenys of "Hope" plantation, Stafford County, Va., the following brief genealogy of the family may be of general interest.

The lineage of the Mathenys of "Hope" in the direct male line is as follows:

1. Nughes, de Thoire, who ruled the country of Bugey, France, in the year 1080.

2. Guillaume de Thoire, ( who ruled the country) Chevalier, Sire de Vaudrey. who assisted in the founding of the Abbey of Rosieres in the year 1130 and was the first of the Counts de Vaudrey to bear the name.

3. Aimon de Thoire, Chevalier, Sire de Vaudrey who engaged in a war against the Abbey of Rosieres from 1180 to 1193, married ponce de_____________.

4. Guy de Vaudry, Chevalier, Seigneur de Methenay and Rosieres, who engaged in the said war in 1180 and was the first of the Seignours de Methenay to bear the name.

5. Julian, Seigneour de Methenay, who was living in the year 1233.

6. Jean, Seigneour de Methenay, Rosieres and St. Jean d'Autun, Chevalier, who went to Bruges in the service of the Count of Flanders in 1233 and in 1261, sold the lordships which he had inherited from his father.

7. Paul de Methenay, who accompanied his father to Bruges in 1233, married at Bruges, N______ de Coquelaere, daughter of Gauthier, Seigneur de Coquelaare, Chevalier.

8. Roland de Matteneye, Chevalier, who flourished around 1250, was slain in the battle of Walckeren in the time of Count Guy of Flanders.

9. Jean de Metteneye, Chevalier, who was the founder of the first Forestier, in 1320 of the Societo Noble et Chevalersque de l'Ours Blanc; married Marie Allacrt.

10 Paul de Metteneye, Echevin of Bruges in 1337; married Catherine, daughter of Laurent Donacs.

11. Jacques de Metteneye, Siegneus de Nieuwenheve, Conseillar to the Count of Flanders in 1347; married Marie, daughter of Nicolas Bonin, Chevalier, Seigneur de M__keulebake.

12. Jean de Metteneye, Ecuyer, Seigneur de Nieuwenheve, Master of the Horse of Philip the Bold; married Elizabeth, daughter of Jean Breydel and his wife Claire de Pynckere.

13. Philippe Metteneye, Ecuyer, Consciller and Chamberlain to the Duke of Burgundy; Married Catherine van Ysendycke.

14. Pierre Mettenneye, Chevalier, Seigneur de Marcko and Marquillios,Conseiller and Chamberlain to Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy; married Adrienne, daughter of Jean van Watergawghe, Chevalier.

15. Pierre Vetteneye, Ecuyer, Seigneur de Marck, Marquillios and Poelvoorde, Pannetier to the Duke of Burgundy and to Maxmillien, King of the Romans; married Marquerite, daughter of Louis de Baenst, Chevalier de Jerusalem, Seigneur de Saint Georges.

16. Jean Metteneye, Chevalier, Seignour de Marck, Marquillies and Poelvoorde; Consciller, Chamberlain, Premier Pannetier and Maitre-d"Hotel to the Emperor Charles V.; died in Spain in or before the year 1532.

17. Richard Metteneye, Ecuyer; married, first in Flanders, ____; married, second, July 29, 1566 at Christ Church, Newgate Street, London, Margaret Vellham. He was a refugee in London as early as May 23, 1550.

18. Jean Metteney (Mathenye and Matyney in English), born in Flanders and baptized May 28, 1550, at Christ Church, Newgate, London; Married 1568, Katheryne_________. a Burgundian, and removed to Bishop GateWard, St. Botholph's Parish, London, about this time.

19 Charles Metteneye, Born about 1569 in St. Botolph's (Botolns?)Parish, London; Married ____________.

20. William Metteneye, who removed to Rossenden, near Dunkirk on the Faversham Road five miles from Canterbury County, Kent, before 1640; married Elizabeth ____________.

21. Daniel Metteneye, Born about 1638, emigrated to Surrey Co., Va., before 1663 in company with his brother Michael (Michael had no descendants) and settled in Charles Co. Md., in 1663; married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Wentworth, Gent., of "Wentworth-Woodhouse" and "Wentworth's Rest" plantations. Daniel Mathenia, as he was called, acquired "Portowne," Wentworth-Woodhouse", "Fernes", "Mathena'a Folly", "Cowland" and Hope" plantations. In 1681 he removed to "Hope", which was in Stafford Co, Va., and resided there until his death in 1689.

22. William Matheny of "Hope" plantation, died November, 1705 leaving a will; married 1691, Frances, widow of the first Colonel George Mason.

23. Daniel Matheny of "Hope" plantatio, died about 1747; married Mary _______, and left among others, William and James Matheny, Sr., who was father of James Matheny, Jr., Ensign in the Revolution.

24. William Matheny of "Hope" plantation married, first Sarah Jones, on March 22, 1744; married , second, Sept. 10, 1747, Ann daughter of Job and Ursula Sims; sold "Hope" and moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1756, leaving many descendants.

Register-General, "Sons of the Revolution", lineage of William Blake Metheny, W. Va., petition of 1934, giving descent through nos. 21,22,23,etc. (member of basis of service of Ensign James Metheny, Jr., Later of Preston Co., W. Va.)

Boston Transcript, March 22, 1937.

COAT-of-ARMS

ARMS: Gulles with bars of silver accompanied by bands of gold,background of blue. Helmet with wreath

CREST: A half-swan of silver on the point of rising. Beak of gull bearing a small ring of silver. Mantling of gold with green.